‘Long LIV Golf’: Rebel Golf Tour Signs Extension, Will Stay in Adelaide until 2031

• LIV Golf and the South Australian Government have signed an extension to keep the tournament in Adelaide until at least 2031.
• The city will remain the exclusive home of LIV Golf in Australia until that time.
• South Australia premier Peter Malinauskas also announced plans to redevelop the North Adelaide Golf Course in preparation for future events.
• The tournament has reportedly contributed $136 million to the state’s economy in its first two years.

Rebel sports league LIV Golf has secured its future in Australia, with South Australia set to retain the blockbuster tournament for at least another six years. On Sunday morning, just hours before Chilean athlete Joaquin Niemann nabbed a famous victory, South Australia premier Peter Malinauskas, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil, and LIV Golf board member and Australian golf legend Greg Norman confirmed a new deal had been struck. The agreement between LIV Golf and the South Australian Government confirms that Adelaide will be the exclusive home of LIV Golf in Australia through 2031.

“This event is the embodiment of what LIV Golf represents: the biggest stars, the best courses, unmatched experiences, and of course, the best fans in the world,” O’Neil said. “Thank you to Premier Peter Malinauskas for his leadership and commitment to LIV Golf for the long term. LIV Golf Adelaide is our showcase and brings the vision for all our events across the globe to life. We couldn’t be more thrilled to honour what this community has helped us build over the last three years through a partnership that will take it to even greater heights for years to come.”

The LIV Golf Australia extension announcement follows a blockbuster weekend of sports and entertainment. An estimated 100,000 spectators attended over the three days, revelling in world-class stroke play and performances from musicians such as Dom Dolla, The Jungle Giants, and Fisher, capping off what has been a remarkable period of growth for the tour.

In the lead-up to this year’s event, questions were raised about whether South Australia would be able to retain the coveted sporting event. With Adelaide’s hosting contract due to end after its fourth event in 2026, speculation had been mounting that larger capital cities Sydney and Melbourne were eyeing LIV Golf for a potential play. On Sunday, premier Malinauskas put all doubts to rest, moving quickly to secure the tournament hosting rights until 2031.

In its short tenure Down Under, LIV Golf has proven to be a breakout success. The Saudi-backed sports league’s only Australian tournament has paid dividends for South Australia, with the government reporting that LIV Golf Adelaide has already contributed $136 million to the state’s economy in its first two years alone, and it’s only getting bigger.

As part of the new commitment, the Malinauskas Labor Government, in collaboration with the Adelaide City Council, announced further plans to redevelop the North Adelaide Golf Course. LIV Golf board member and Australian sporting icon Greg Norman will design the course, transforming the facility into one of the world’s best public golf courses. According to Norman, the redevelopment will house a new 18-hole Championship Course, driving range and practice facilities, alongside space for temporary tournament infrastructure to accommodate the continued growth of LIV Golf Adelaide.

“I’ve dreamed of building a global golf league for 30 years,” Norman explained. “LIV Golf Adelaide is the realisation of what LIV Golf can be around the world. I want to thank Premier Peter Malinauskas, a friend and an incredible leader for South Australia. What LIV Golf has built has never been done before, changing the sport for the better while having a lasting impact on communities like Adelaide. I’m honoured to design a world-class course that will benefit current and future generations here in Australia. Long LIV Golf!”

There is no set completion date for the first purpose-built LIV Golf course, however, it does play an important role in the new agreement. As per the deal, the final three years are contingent on the redevelopment of the North Adelaide property and exist irrespective of the suggested reunification of the PGA and LIV tours. Premier Peter Malinauskas described the upcoming project as a ‘stunning platform’ to showcase the very best of South Australia.

“Nestled in the stunning Adelaide Park Lands, the North Adelaide Golf Course is a stunning platform on which to showcase our city to the rest of the world,” Malinauskas said. “The investments we’re making will deliver a high-quality outcome for our Park Lands, improvements for members of the public who want to play at North Adelaide, and importantly, provide a new home for the growth of LIV Golf Adelaide.”

“Seeing LIV get bigger and better means more people from around Australia and the world getting the chance to experience the wonders of our state,” the premier continued. “This is about much more than just bringing the world’s best golfers to Adelaide – it’s about telling the story of South Australia to a global audience, with images of our State’s magnificent regions beamed into the homes of over 100 countries.”

LIV Golf was founded in 2019 as a renegade tour that offers a fast-paced, fun-filled alternative to the existing PGA Tour. The invitational series pits players against each other in a unique team-based format, with 13 squads of four or more players working together to post the lowest score across each tournament. It has faced controversy in the past for its ties to the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. The organisation’s dependence on Saudi money has resulted in intense criticism, with human rights groups arguing the tour is an example of sportswashing—a political strategy of cleansing a nation’s global image through sport.